Improving Gut Health Isn’t One Size Fits All: Here’s How to Do It

Your gut’s microbiome is unlike any other. There is not a single person in the world who has the same gut make up as you, so why follow a gut health plan designed for the masses? You shouldn’t. Improving gut health is not a one size fits all approach. Are you listening to your gut?

Gut health is essential to many of our body’s most vital functions. Gut health affects how well you sleep. It can play a role in developing heart disease. And is connected to your hormones. It’s also connected to your central nervous system. We’re talking about some serious health-related issues here.

Just as you would seek individualized treatment for a heart condition or hormone imbalance, you need a personalized plan to improve your gut health. Here’s how to do it.

Your Unique Gut Health Needs

A lot of factors come into play when addressing gut health. Some are lifestyle-related, while others may be genetic or related to medical conditions. Even medications that you take play a role in the needs of your gut. When the many elements of your everyday life are combined, it’s easy to see how the way you improve your gut health should be like no one else’s.

When considering your gut health plan, take the following quizzes to see what your body might be telling you:

• What your skin is saying about your gut
• What your bowel movements are saying about your gut
• Are you experiencing food sensitivities?
• How your diet could be impacting your gut

Now, put the theory to the test. Invite a friend or family member to take the same quizzes. They won’t receive the same results on every quiz. That’s because no two guts are the same.

But there’s even more to consider. Men and women have different gut issues, and those who travel abroad frequently often need to prepare their guts for ethnic cuisine. Do you see all the moving components?

It’s time to develop a gut health plan that’s just right for you.

Knowing Where to Start

After taking all the quizzes and reading up on the various issues that affect gut health, it can be hard to know where to start. We’re here to help. First, it can be beneficial to speak with your doctor regarding any concerns you have. If you frequently get an upset stomach, have heartburn, or have inconsistent bowel movements, it’s worth discussing with a medical professional.

Additionally, there are small steps you can take at home to start improving your gut health. It all begins with identifying the underlying problems. See if you’re eating foods that kill your healthy gut microbiota, and if so, start to eliminate them from your diet. Then, try incorporating fermented foods that promote gut health.

Listen to Your Body

The key to success is listening to your body the entire time. Does one of those fermented foods make you queasy? Don’t stick with it just because it’s on the “good” list. It might have done wonders for your friend, but it just isn’t working for you. That’s okay.

Recognizing these things, and then correcting them, is part of what makes developing your gut health plan so important.

Next, get more in-tune with what your gut is telling you the rest of the time. There are gut health apps that help you track symptoms, eating habits, and everyday actions that can affect your microbiome. The apps create charts identifying triggers and provide suggestions for improving your gut health plan.

Finally, stick with what you know is working. For example, if you cut refined sugar from your diet and notice that your gut is doing much better, continue. The same goes for gluten, dairy, or soy. We know it can be difficult, after all, who doesn’t love ice cream, but to optimize your gut health, you must listen to these cues from your body.

Maybe going vegan is your best gut health plan. It’s all about what works for you.

Customized Gut Supplements

Maintaining gut health is an on-going process. As your lifestyle changes, you may need to tweak your plan. Stress can cause gut problems, as can things like pregnancy, or moving to a new region. A GR8 way to help the healthy bacteria in your gut flourish is to try precision probiotics.

Precision probiotics are supplements that are designed just for you, based on a professional analysis of your gut’s composition. They target the areas that you need help with the most.

Continuing on the Gut Health Journey

There are many more nuances that contribute to gut health than we can cover in just one article. If you’re looking to improve your gut health in a way that’s just right for you, it’s important to keep trying different techniques until you find what works.

At GR8NESS, we’re always here for you. If there’s something specific that you want to know about gut health, let us know here. We’re continuously searching for more gut health questions and bringing answers to our readers.